Chemrez Technologies Inc. announced that Boysen KNOxOUT Air Cleaning Paint won the Chemrez Green Chemistry Award in the recently concluded 2009 National Invention Contest and Exhibits organized by the Department of Science and Technology. Chemrez Chief Operating Officer Jun Lao said the new paint which was developed by Pacific Paint (Boysen) Philippines, Inc., truly exemplifies the principles of green chemistry. The benefits of this air cleaning paint to health and environment are what led to its winning the Chemrez Green Chemistry Award. Green Chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances.

       Boysen KNOxOUT is the first air cleaning paint in the world. It contains a photocatalytic titanium dioxide which upon exposure to light, transforms ordinary water vapor to free radicals that break down nitrogen oxide (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), the components of smog. NOx or nitrogen oxides, mostly generated by vehicle emissions, are highly reactive gases that have hazardous effects on health and environment. They form smog or ground level ozone and small particulate matter that can cause respiratory problems and also lead to acid rain.

       The Chemrez Green Chemistry Award - Student Category, on the other hand, was won by the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University, Laboratory High School in Agoo, La Union. The winning research, entitled ?The Termiticidal Potential of Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M. King and H. Robinson? and conducted by the students of the State University, was about a plant?s ability to exterminate termites. Locally known as hagonoy, chromolaena odorata is a shrub that grows abundantly in many parts of the tropics including the Philippines.

       Data from Oil World show China imported 36,900 MT of lauric oils in October 2009. This is 29.5% more than October a year earlier total at 28,500 MT. Palm kernel comprised the bulk of import amounting to 29,400 MT (79.7% share) while coconut oil was 7,500 MT (20.3%). Purchases of coconut oil during the month increased by 82.9% from last year at 4,100 MT, while that of palm kernel oil rose by 20.5% from 24,400 MT.

       Indonesia was the country?s major source of lauric oil responsible for 73.7% at 27,200 MT. This consisted of 21,200 MT of palm kernel oil (14,500 MT last year) and 6,000 MT of coconut oil (2,000 MT). Delivery from Malaysia at 8,200 MT (9,900 MT) of palm kernel oil contributed 22.2%. The Philippines supplied 1,400 MT (100 MT) of coconut oil only, while import from other countries totaled 100 MT (2,000 MT) of coconut oil only.

       California has become the first state to ban the use of trans fat-containing cooking oils, as new state law signed by Governor Schwarzenegger in July 2008 came into effect on January 01. The new California law requires that all oils, margarines and shortenings used in frying must contain less that 0.5 percent trans fat per serving. Food manufacturers and restaurants that violate the law face fines of up to $1,000. Though the law was signed earlier in 2008, it became effective only at the beginning of this year in order to give manufacturers time to reformulate with alternative fats and oils.

       The South Korean government announced last month its plan to invest 5.9 trillion won (5 billion U.S. dollars) on research and development for farming and food products. The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries said the investment starting this year will boost the country?s R & D capabilities in agriculture and food processing sectors to 82 percent of developed countries from the current 67 percent level. ?This is the first comprehensive master plan aimed at supporting R & D in farming and food products,? a ministry official said.

       World Bank has donated a generating plant and a standard laboratory to the National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT), Zaria, Kaduna State, to boost the institute?s bio-diesel and renewable fuel research programs. Dr. Emmanuel Okwokwo, director general of NARICT told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the Institute had recorded a breakthrough in its bio-diesel research programs.

       Malaysian exports of palm oil to Bangladesh dropped significantly in 2009 from prior year level. In January to October 2009, palm oil shipment totaled 56,726 MT worth M$137 million (US$40.18 million), a swift dive from 217,264 MT during the whole year 2008. As a result, the Malaysian government is stepping up efforts to reverse the decline. Bernard Dompok, Malaysian plantation industries and commodities minister said the government will be hosting trade fairs and exhibitions to steer forward. He also asked the government of Bangladesh to utilize the Palm Oil Credit Payment Arrangement (POCPA), which was stopped some time ago.

       Turkey?s olive oil sector plans to increase its production capacity to 650,000 tons in the next four or five years with a view to become the second-biggest producer in the world. In more recent years, the country?s olive oil and olive sector has seen major increases in the number of olive growers and area dedicated to olive growing. Officials credit the gains from the pricing policy and exporting potential as well as promising government incentives supplied to growers. The sector?s exporter unions put a special emphasis on China, whose importing volume from Turkey surpassed $3 million in 2008.